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The world record for the mile hovered just above 4 minutes for nine years, with challengers unable to break that coveted figure. England’s Roger Bannister, a 1952 Olympian who finished fourth in the 1,500 meters, continued his racing career after the Helsinki Games and felt breaking the 4-minute mile was achievable.
Other runners were closing in, notably Australian John Landy, who ran a 4:02.4, 4:02.6 and 4:02.6 early in 1954. Bannister made his attempt in May 1954 at Iffley Road Track in Oxford. In the four-lap race, Bannister was at 3:01 after the third lap, and closed in 58 seconds to set the world record at 3:59.4, collapsing into a sea of well-wishers just after the finish line.
And while Bannister’s record-breaking achievement is one of track’s most iconic, it was also one of its most short-lived. Just 46 days later, Landy broke Bannister’s record with a 3:58 mile. Bannister retired later in 1954 after setting a European Championships record in the 1,500 at 3:43.8. He went on to become a neurologist and practiced medicine for 40 years. He was knighted in 1975 for his contributions to sport.
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